By Samuel Oyadongha

The community to community meet the people tour embarked upon by the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, the first by any sitting governor in the predominantly riverine state has exposed him    to the needs of the rural dwellers, who constitute the bulk of the voting population and the need for government to invest in the development of the communities.

To this end, Dickson, who has traversed virtually all the communities in the state in the course of his campaign as part of his strategy to woo the undecided voters to his side has assured that community development would be a major priority of his administration when re-elected.

Dickson in an interview in Yenagoa said his shift in focus to community development became necessary in view of its immense possibilities among the rural dwellers in the area of economic integration and general wellbeing of the people.

Gov Dickson

Noting that the recent community tour has further opened his eyes to the realities of rural life and appreciation of the people especially the women for the government’s efforts in establishing amenities in their areas, believed community development would help to have an inclusive society and better the lots of the people.

His words, “My tour has opened my eyes more than ever before to the realities of rural life and particularly to the possibilities of our people. God bless our women, mothers and grandmothers! As we tour communities, we see them happy, showing heartfelt appreciation for one school or health centre that was built or renovated.

“I believe that with what I have seen in the course of my tour, in the next tenure community development will have a higher priority because I have seen that one little investment in your community touches many lives and changes their lives and the way they perceive government. I will find a way of emphasizing community needs in the budget particularly issues of women empowerment,” he said.

The governor said he was moved by the affection shown to him by the chiefs, women and youths in the communities, saying he realized more than ever that these categories of Bayelsans mattered even more to government that they needed to be assisted to overcome the challenge of poverty and live a better life.

He narrated how he was touched when he got to some communities and women put their wrappers down on the road, one after the other, over 6 to 7 hundred meters up to the podium for him to step on as their own kind of red carpet.

He said he found it difficult to step on these wrappers but appreciated the love behind it and the need to reciprocate their gesture through socio-economic development of their communities.

Dickson said he shared their interest more than ever promising to return to them in their localities after the election to thank them and begin work on proper policy framework to cater for the development of these areas to spread facilities that can enhance the people’s welfare and happiness.

“As a ‘countryman’ I will go back to my country people. That is what this job entails, not flying about in expensively-rented choppers. What I know is that I am in this business to serve and for me even life itself is for service to humanity, our society and God.